Tamara Accaoui (left), PhD, Clinical Audiologist, Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center and Reine C Al Koussayer (right), BS Medical Audiology Sciences, Clinical Audiologist, Department of Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center.
Dr Hussain Abdulrahman Al Rand once again arranged this highly esteemed gathering of experts, practitioners and researchers in otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery. The three-day event brought together the 13th GCC Otorhinolaryngology Audiology and Communication Disorders Conference and the 13th Emirates Otorhinolaryngology Audiology Swallowing & Communication Disorders Congress.
It took place in the beautiful Arab city of Dubai and covered everything from advanced surgical techniques to groundbreaking therapies for hearing disorders. It provided a dynamic and professional environment for engaging discussions. Attendees explored emerging trends in the field, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to patient care and advancing ENT standards. As medical technology evolves, EROC 2024 served as a crucial platform for collaboration, ensuring practitioners stay at the forefront of ENT research and practice.
There was a wide range of lectures, symposiums, panel discussions and free paper forums. One of the standout presentations we attended introduced a new aspect of immittance testing: wideband tympanometry. We believe this innovative test holds considerable clinical value. Currently, we're integrating it into our clinic in Lebanon.
Another highlight was the panel discussion on challenging cases in cochlear implant patients, which taught us that unconventional ways may sometimes be the right way to go. Notably, the conference featured panel discussions and lectures emphasising the global significance of diverse test battery implementations and exploring the integration of telehealth in audiology services and speech-language assessments.
The EROC 2024 exhibition hall was a great place to meet new people and get introduced to the latest technological advancements and research. Central to the exhibition was a showcase of all the cutting-edge hearing aids, cochlear implants and much more. These technologies, highlighted though live demonstrations, provided valuable information and introduced new clinical applications.
One particularly interesting aspect of this year’s exhibition was the use of artificial intelligence in many new clinical procedures, equipment and solutions. With the world making immense technological advances, it is essential for us to take advantage of this technology in our clinical settings.
The attendees of the conference were leading experts and pioneers in their fields. Meeting and learning from such a diverse group is exhilarating, as it enriches the professional network and opens new doors for thriving careers. This conference is definitely in our plans for next year and is highly recommended for anyone in this field.
